Adams feels at home
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
CAMERON ADAMS, an Easton native, began his new position as the principal of Easton Junior-Senior High School Jan. 28. He replaces Georgette Bubar who resigned last September. Pictured with Adams is Wendi Malenfant, Easton Elementary School principal. The duo completed their master’s educational leadership cohort together in 2011 and are looking forward to collaborating on various projects.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
EASTON — Cameron Adams remembers scurrying through the halls of Easton Junior-Senior High School 20 years ago on his way to class. Today he is walking those same halls as principal, a position he started last Monday.
“The opportunity arose for me to apply to Easton and I jumped at the chance,” said Adams, 39. “I knew if I didn’t apply for it that I would always look back with regret. The ring was there and I needed to grab it.
“In education, we are coming into probably the greatest changes we’ve seen in the last 100 years,” he said, “and I wanted to be a part of that. I want to be somebody that can help guide people down that path.”
The principalship is a homecoming for Adams as he grew up in Easton where he attended K-12 schools.
“There are a few people here today that were here when I was a student, which is very comforting,” said Adams. “If I didn’t have the foundation of K-12 in Easton — in a small school where they cared about me — I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Before accepting the new position, Adams was the drafting instructor at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center for 15 years. Growing up, he said his path was leading him to the world of engineering and architecture.
“I was a sending school student to the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center where I took drafting my junior and senior year of high school,” said Adams, who graduated from Easton High School in 1991. “That was going to lead me into the engineering and architecture world, which it did, right into industry … things like drafting, designing and computer-aided design. While I had great teachers in Easton, I also had a great teacher in Presque Isle in Ken Knight.
“One of the things Ken said to me was, ‘You should think about doing this [being a drafting instructor] as a career.’ He encouraged me to go back to school to get my bachelor’s degree, which I received in education as a result of his guidance,” he said. “He was a great mentor, and I always thought that if I could have the effect on kids the same way he had an effect on me, I would be happy and knew I would want to be a teacher.”
Adams received his associate’s degree in drafting technology from Northern Maine Community College and then applied his trade for different companies for a few years.
“Unfortunately Ken passed away in 1998 and the district was looking for a drafting instructor,” said Adams, “so I put in for it and got the job. I started in the fall of 1998, and my last day at PIRCTC was Jan. 25.
“I left a job that I love. I did it for 15 years and I did it because I enjoyed the kids,” he said. “The time spent with the students was great and it meant a lot to pass on the trade.”
As principal, Adams said he hopes to continue the great work that was done before his arrival.
“Easton has a reputation of being a great school and I want to uphold that tradition,” he said, “and to continue the great things that they’re doing. I want to continue to support the bar that the faculty, students and community have raised.
“I have a lot of ties to Easton which is great because I know what the expectations are. I know the culture here because I’m from here,” said Adams, the son of Suzanne and the late Michael Adams. “I feel lucky to come into that because a lot of people wouldn’t have that luxury. In addition, the amount of support I’ve received has been wonderful. Everybody has been welcoming of me; I’m very excited to be here.”
One of those who welcomed Adams to the district was Wendi Malenfant, Easton Elementary School principal.
“Cam and I started our master’s cohort in 2007 through the University of Maine at Orono. We worked together for four years in the educational leadership cohort and we instantly became friends,” said Malenfant. “We see things very similarly and have a lot of the same goals and viewpoints regarding education. We had a lot of good discussions about educational leadership and education in general. This is our first time being in leadership together. Being a small school, we talk about professional development and our districtwide goals, so there will be some collaboration which I’m looking forward to.
“I think we’re going to make a good team,” she said. “There have been several great leaders here before us that set high standards. We just need to hold true to those. We don’t have to create or fix anything; we have to just continue the hard work that has already happened here. I’ve been doing that at the elementary school and I know Cam is going to do that at the junior-senior high school.”
A self-described “life-long learner,” Adams is presently working toward his certificate of advanced study, which would allow him one day to become a superintendent.
Adams presently resides in Mars Hill, but is looking to relocate to Easton.
